Large Typhoon Chan-hom is moving northward toward Shanghai, China.  At 5:00 p.m. EDT on Friday the center of Typhoon Chan-hom was located at latitude 28.2°N and longitude 123.1°E which put it about 300 miles (500 km) south-southeast of Shanghai, China.  Chan-hom was moving to the northwest at 10 m.p.h. (16 km/h).  The maximum sustained wind speed was 105 m.p.h. (170 km/h) and there were wind gusts to 125 m.p.h. (200 km/h).  The minimum surface pressure was 956 mb.

Chan-hom still has a very symmetrical circulation, but the intensity of the thunderstorms appears to have weakened in recent hours.  The typhoon is moving over water where the Sea Surface Temperatures (SSTs) are cooler and that is the most likely cause for the decreased intensity of the thunderstorms.  As it nears the coast of China, more of the western half of the circulation will be over land and increased friction will further reduce the wind speeds.  Vertical wind shear may also increase as Chan-hom moves farther north.

Chan-hom is moving around the western end of the subtropical ridge which has been steering it toward the northwest.  As it moves around the end of the ridge, Chan-hom will first turn toward the north and then it could accelerate toward the northeast when it begins to be affected by the mid-latitude westerlies.  On its anticipated track the center of Chan-hom will be near Shanghai in about 24 hours.  Given the large size of Chan-hom, the typhoon could bring strong winds and locally heavy rain to the region near Shanghai.